US8102418B2 - Microscope observation system - Google Patents

Microscope observation system Download PDF

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US8102418B2
US8102418B2 US12/275,419 US27541908A US8102418B2 US 8102418 B2 US8102418 B2 US 8102418B2 US 27541908 A US27541908 A US 27541908A US 8102418 B2 US8102418 B2 US 8102418B2
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unit
adjustment
observation
image
light
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US20090296203A1 (en
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Jitsunari Kojima
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Evident Corp
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Olympus Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B21/00—Microscopes
    • G02B21/36—Microscopes arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes or digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements
    • G02B21/365—Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the control of a microscope observation system.
  • a microscope observation system is widely used in various fields beginning with the research of the biological field up to the inspection process of the industrial field and the like.
  • an image obtained by magnifying and observing a fine specimen can be recorded on a personal computer (hereinafter called PC) as digital data, observed and analyzed.
  • PC personal computer
  • the change of a specimen can also be recorded as video images.
  • the conventional microscope observation system one configured by adding an imaging equipment for capturing images to a microscope as its component is common.
  • an imaging equipment for capturing images to a microscope as its component.
  • an imaging equipment dedicated for image recording is used.
  • Image data is recorded on non-volatile memory, is read into the PC via the non-volatile memory and is analyzed on a monitor connected to the PC.
  • an image is obtained by an imaging equipment and is displayed on the video device directly connected to the PC.
  • the object of the image data recording device is to record image data and the image data recording device is positioned similarly to the picture taking device in conventional microscope system.
  • Japan Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-292369 a microscope observation system for automatically setting the display method of a monitor display unit on the basis of the operation condition of a microscope is proposed.
  • the observation image of the microscope can be always picked up in its optimum state.
  • Japan Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-128582 a device whose operability of forming and framing (shooting composition) of a specimen is improved and by which high quality images can be obtained even when a specimen is dark is proposed.
  • the reliability of the device is improved, for example, the amount of reflected light into a light receiving device can be suppressed by inserting an ND filter in an observation optical system as a measure for preventing an imaging equipment from breaking due to the mis-operation of an observer.
  • Japan Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-507766 (WO 01/013640)
  • the setting of an imaging equipment is specified, detected and reflected in software for taking in images.
  • a microscope observation system comprises a microscope having an optical system for enlarging/observing a specimen, an image capturing unit (refers to as an camera unit hereafter) for photo-electrically converting a specimen image obtained by the microscope to an image signal, a light amount adjustment unit for controlling an adjustment part group included in the microscope in order to suppress the amount of reflected light of the specimen image formed on the camera unit, an image capturing adjustment unit (refers to as a camera adjustment unit hereafter) for controlling the adjustment part group of the camera unit in order to adjust the image signal photo-electrically converted by the camera unit, a light measurement unit for measuring the brightness of the specimen image on the basis of the image signal, a display unit for displaying an image generated on the basis of the image signal, a control unit for controlling the continuous display speed for indicating a continuous display interval of images continuously displayed on the display unit by controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit and at least one of an observation position shifting unit for shifting the observation position or observation magnification of the specimen and an observation state detection unit
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the lower limit of the continuous display speed may become the minimum display speed capable of observing and operating the display unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the upper limit of the minimum interval of the continuous display speed may become the display interval by the maximum frame rate of the display unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the shortest time until the specimen image is photo-electrically converted by the camera unit and is converted to data displayable on the display unit may become the display interval of the maximum frame rate.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by specifying the upper limit of the continuous display interval on the basis of a reading speed at which the image signal is read after the specimen image is photo-electrically converted by the camera unit and controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises an external communication unit for transmitting the image signal to which a prescribed imaging process is applied after the specimen image is photo-electrically converted by the camera unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by specifying the upper limit of the continuous display speed on the basis of the maximum data transmitting speed of the external communication unit and controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by specifying the minimum display speed at which an operator is capable of observing and operating the display unit as a low end and the maximum frame rate of the display unit as the upper limits of the continuous display speed and controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the continuous display speed may exist between the lower and upper limits.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by specifying the minimum display speed at which an operator is capable of observing and operating the display unit as a low end and the maximum frame rate indicated as the upper limit of a speed until the specimen image is photo-electrically converted and is converted data displayable on the display unit as the upper limits of the continuous display speed and controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the continuous display speed may exist between the lower and upper limits.
  • the control unit identifies the movement change of the specimen itself. If it has identified that the specimen is moving, the control unit does not control the continuous display speed.
  • the microscope observation system also comprises at least two or more adjustment parts in total, one being controlled by the light amount adjustment unit and the other being controlled by the camera adjustment unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by setting priority to the order of adjusting the adjustment parts and downing the control priority of either the adjustment part in which the resolution of a picked-up image is to be adjusted or the adjustment part affecting the noise level of a photo-electrically converted electric signal.
  • the microscope observation system also comprises two or more adjustment parts in total, one being controlled by the light amount adjustment unit and the other being controlled by the camera adjustment unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by setting priority to the order of adjusting the adjustment parts and downing the control priority of the adjustment part in which the amount of light applied to the specimen tends to increase.
  • the microscope observation system also comprises at least two or more adjustment parts in total, one being controlled by the light amount adjustment unit and the other being controlled by the camera adjustment unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by setting priority to the order of adjusting the adjustment parts and downing the control priority of the adjustment part caused by increasing the continuous display speed interval.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises an image recording unit for recording the continuously displayed images.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the lower limit of the continuous display speed may become a video rate recorded on the image recording unit.
  • the operator can observe using two or more methods capable of observing a specimen in the different states of an optical system in the microscope observation system.
  • the microscope observation system comprises two or more adjustment parts in total, one being controlled by the light amount adjustment unit and the other being controlled by the camera adjustment unit.
  • the priority of adjusting the adjustment parts according to the observation method is set and further comprises an observation method switching unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by the observation method switching unit.
  • the control unit also measures the signal noise level of the photo-electrically converted picked-up image signal, sets the reference value of a signal noise level endurable to observe an observation image which is deteriorated by the signal noise, determines whether the noise level measured by the measurement unit exceeds the reference value and controls the continuous display speed on the basis of the determination result.
  • control unit does not control the continuous display speed.
  • control unit does not control the continuous display speed.
  • control unit controls the continuous display speed.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises an adjustment input unit capable of inputting information about the adjustment of the adjustment part controlled by the light amount adjustment unit or the camera adjustment unit.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed as to adjustment parts other than the adjustment part adjusted by the adjustment input unit.
  • the control unit accumulatively adds n pieces of frame image data which are displayed in n (n: arbitrary integer) frames before a predetermined image data to the predetermined image data continuously displayed on the display unit and displays the added image data as the current display image. Simultaneously, the control unit controls the continuous display speed.
  • control unit temporarily modifies the priority of the order of adjusting the adjustment parts.
  • the control unit restricts the shifting speed of the observation position shifting unit when the actual minimum display interval time is not reached to the specified minimum display interval even when the continuous display speed is controlled by the light amount adjustment unit or the camera adjustment unit.
  • the control unit also maintains an image displayed on the display unit in a certain size even if the size of an image to be displayed on the display unit changes as a result of controlling by the camera adjustment unit.
  • control unit also performs an adjustment complementary process of keeping an image immediately prior to the adjustment until the adjustment is completed.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises a storage unit for storing an image immediately prior to the adjustment.
  • the control unit stops continuous display on the display unit, controls the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes, displays image data stored in the storage unit on the display unit until the control of the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes is completed and re-starts the continuous display after the control of the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes is completed.
  • the control unit applies the adjustment complementary process.
  • the control unit executes the adjustment complementary process of maintaining the brightness of a display image constant by temporarily applying correction in the adjustment parts in which the amount of light continuously changes. If the movement of the specimen stops, the control unit controls the continuous display speed.
  • FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of each of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the image capturing control unit (refers to as the camera control unit hereafter) [ 43 ].
  • FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • FIG. 4 is a top view showing the device structure of the CCD ( 36 ).
  • FIG. 5 is the timing chart of CCD drive (normal operation).
  • FIG. 6 shows a CCD data output waveform for one pixel.
  • FIG. 7 is the timing chart of CCD drive (operation in the case where accumulation time is extended).
  • FIG. 8 is the timing chart of CCD drive (operation in the electronic shutter mode).
  • FIG. 9 is the timing chart of CCD drive (operation in the binning mode).
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B show CCD data output waveforms at the time of binning application.
  • FIG. 11 shows one example of the display screen of the display unit [ 46 ] in the first preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 12 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (microscope control).
  • FIG. 13 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (light measurement, display mode control).
  • FIG. 14 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (display mode changing process).
  • FIG. 15 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process at the time of bright field observation).
  • FIG. 16 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 17 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure at the time of bright field observation).
  • FIG. 18 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Over exposure at the time of bright field observation).
  • FIG. 19 is the exposure adjustment control program chart at the time of bright field observation in the first preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 20 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 21 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Over exposure at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 22 is the exposure adjustment control program chart at the time of fluorescence observation in the first preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 23 explains the program hierarchy of the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • FIG. 24 shows one example of the screen structure of the display unit [ 46 ] in the second preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 25 is the flowchart of the process in the second preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure in a High image quality mode).
  • FIG. 26 is the flowchart of the process in the second preferred embodiment (process in the case of Over exposure in a High image quality mode).
  • FIG. 27 is the exposure adjustment control program chart in a High image quality mode of the second preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 28 shows the basic configuration of the third preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 29 is the flowchart of the process in the third preferred embodiment (process in bright field observation).
  • FIG. 30 is the flowchart of the process in the third preferred embodiment (process during movement).
  • FIG. 31 is the flowchart of the process in the third preferred embodiment (priority modification process No. 1).
  • FIG. 32 is the flowchart in the third preferred embodiment (priority modification process No. 2).
  • FIG. 33 shows the basic configuration of the fourth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 34 explains the display contents change of the observation screen [ 79 ] in the case where the stage [ 8 ] is moved in the fifth preferred embodiment (No. 1).
  • FIG. 35 explains the display contents change of the observation screen [ 79 ] in the case where the stage [ 8 ] is moved in the fifth preferred embodiment (No. 2).
  • FIG. 36 explains the display contents change of the observation screen [ 79 ] in the case where the stage [ 8 ] is moved in the fifth preferred embodiment (No. 3).
  • FIG. 37 is the flowchart of the process in the fifth preferred embodiment (process during stage movement).
  • FIG. 38 is the flowchart of the process in the sixth preferred embodiment (process during specimen movement).
  • FIG. 39 shows the concept of specimen movement detection in the sixth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 40 is the flowchart of the process in the seventh preferred embodiment (process at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 41 is the flowchart of the process in the seventh preferred embodiment (exposure process during specimen movement).
  • FIG. 42 shows one example of the display screen of the display unit [ 46 ] in the eighth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 43 is the flowchart of the process in the eighth preferred embodiment (process at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 44 is the flowchart of the process in the eighth preferred embodiment (exposure process during recording).
  • FIG. 45 is the flowchart of the process in the ninth preferred embodiment (noise data detection process).
  • FIG. 46 shows the concept of noise detection in the ninth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 47 is the flowchart of the process in the tenth preferred embodiment (control contents skip).
  • FIG. 48 is the flowchart of the process in the eleventh preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure in fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 49 is the flowchart of the process in the eleventh preferred embodiment (process in the case of Over exposure in fluorescence observation).
  • FIG. 50 is the flowchart of the process in the eleventh preferred embodiment (exposure control process at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • FIGS. 51A and 51B show the concept of image addition process in the eleventh preferred embodiment.
  • FIGS. 52A , 52 B and 52 C explain the display contents change due to the difference of image data sizes in the twelfth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 53 shows the concept of image size magnification/reduction in the twelfth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 54 is the flowchart of the process in the twelfth preferred embodiment (image size changing process).
  • FIGS. 55A , 55 B and 55 C explain the concept of the brightness change of screen display due to the difference of exposure control in the thirteenth preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 56 is the flowchart of the process in the thirteenth preferred embodiment (complementary process control).
  • FIG. 57 is the flowchart of the process in the fourteenth preferred embodiment (overall flow).
  • FIG. 58 is the flowchart of the process in the fourteenth preferred embodiment (complementary process control).
  • the microscope observation system detects the state of a microscope and optimizes the state of an imaging equipment (Japan Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-292369), and the converse example is that the microscope observation system suppresses the setting on the microscope side according to the operating state of an imaging (Japan Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-177307) and the like.
  • They are the inventions in which there is the master and slave relationship between a microscope and an imaging equipment, in a sense. These inventions are made from the viewpoint that a microscope independently exits only for observation and an imaging equipment exits only in order to capture and record images.
  • Japan Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-128582 the high-speed capturing of observation images (live images) in a microscope is realized and its operability and visibility at the time of observation on a monitor display are improved.
  • the invention of this Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-128582 is the invention of a camera itself and is not that of the post-processing of images inputted to the camera.
  • Japan Patent Application laid-open No. 2004-177307 the optimization of taking image at the time of image recording including a microscope is realized.
  • captured images are taken in while avoiding the constraint of a microscope in software and the quality of record images finally stored is improved. Since the microscope and the camera are asynchronously controlled, the optimization of the entire system is not sufficient.
  • the present invention provides a microscope observation system for giving priority to observation images inputted to an imaging equipment and optimally controlling the entire system (microscope+observation device).
  • a microscope observation system comprises a microscope, a camera unit, a light amount adjustment unit, an camera adjustment unit, light measurement unit, a display unit and a control unit and further comprises at least either one of the followings, that is an observation position shifting unit or an observation state detection unit.
  • the microscope photo-electrically converts a specimen image obtained by the microscope to image signal.
  • the camera unit corresponds to, for example, the CCD [ 36 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • something utilized in the transmitted light optical system in a microscope refers to as transmitted light something
  • something utilized in the reflected light optical system in a microscope refers to as reflected light something.
  • the light amount adjustment unit controls adjustment part groups (transmitted light filter group [ 3 ], transmitted light AS [ 6 ], reflected light filter group [ 19 ], reflected light AS [ 23 ], etc.) included in the microscope in order to suppress the amount of reflected light of the specimen image formed on the camera unit.
  • the light amount adjustment unit corresponds to, for example, the microscope control unit [ 34 ] for controlling the transmitted light filter driver circuit [ 25 ], the transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ], the reflected light filter driver circuit [ 32 ], and the reflected light AS driver circuit [ 33 ], etc. in this preferred embodiment.
  • the camera adjustment unit controls adjustment part groups as to the camera unit (gain control, binning control, etc.) in order to adjust the image signal photo-electrically converted by the camera unit to a desired state.
  • the camera adjustment unit corresponds to, for example, the camera control unit [ 43 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the light measurement unit measures the brightness of the specimen image on the basis of the image signal.
  • the camera adjustment unit corresponds to, for example, the camera control unit [ 43 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the display unit displays a picked-up image generated on the basis of the image signal.
  • the display unit corresponds to, for example, the display unit [ 46 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the control unit controls the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit to control continuous display speed indicating the continuous display interval of images to be continuously displayed on the display unit.
  • the control unit corresponds to, for example, the system control unit [ 44 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the observation position shifting unit shifts the observation position or observation magnification of the specimen.
  • the observation position shifting unit corresponds to, for example, the stage [ 8 ], the XY stage driver circuit [ 28 ], the focus driver circuit [ 27 ] and the like in this preferred embodiment.
  • the observation state detection unit detects the observation position or the observation magnification.
  • the observation state detection unit corresponds to, for example, the nose-piece position detection unit [ 66 ], the stage operation detection unit [ 67 ], the manual operation unit [ 68 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the microscope observation system can further comprise an external communication unit.
  • the external communication unit transmits the image signal to which a predetermined imaging process has been performed after being photo-electrically converted by the camera unit to the control unit.
  • the external communication unit corresponds to, for example, the general use I/F conversion unit [ 681 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the control unit can control the continuous display speed by specifying the upper limit of the continuous display speed on the basis of the maximum data transmission speed of the external communication unit and controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • the microscope observation system can also further comprise an image recording unit for recording the images displayed continuously.
  • the image recording unit corresponds to, for example, the HDD [ 49 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the control unit controls the continuous display speed by controlling the light amount adjustment unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the lower limit of the continuous display speed may become a video rate recorded on the image recording unit.
  • the microscope observation system can also further comprise an observation method switching unit in which the priority of adjusting the adjustment parts is set according to the observation method, for switching the observation method.
  • the observation method switching unit corresponds to, for example, the BF button [ 81 ], the FL button [ 82 ], the Normal button [ 92 ], the High button [ 93 ], the record button [ 95 ] and the like in this preferred embodiment.
  • the microscope observation system can also further comprise an adjustment input unit capable of inputting information about the adjustment of the adjustment parts to be controlled by the light amount adjustment unit or the camera adjustment unit.
  • the adjustment input unit corresponds to, for example, the control unit [ 47 ] in this preferred embodiment. In this case, the control unit controls the continuous display speed of adjustment parts other than the adjustment parts adjusted by the adjustment input unit.
  • the microscope observation system can also further comprise a storage unit for storing an image immediately prior to the adjustment.
  • the storage unit corresponds to, for example, the display memory [ 45 ] in this preferred embodiment.
  • the control unit stops the continuous display displayed on the display unit, controls the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes to display the image data stored in the storage unit until the control of the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes is completed and re-starts the continuous display after the control of the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes is completed.
  • FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the entire microscope observation system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the optical system in the microscope observation system of this preferred embodiment is structured in such a way that light from a transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ] consisting of, for example, a halogen lamp is collected by a transmitted light collector lens [ 2 ] and is inputted to a transmitted light filter group [ 3 ].
  • a transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ] consisting of, for example, a halogen lamp
  • the transmitted light filter group [ 3 ] consists of a plurality of ND filters (transmitted light ND 1 [ 4 ]/ND 2 [ 5 ]), for adjusting its brightness without changing the color temperature of the transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ].
  • an arbitrary filter can be selectively inserted in/removed from the light path of a transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ].
  • the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] is structured in such a way that the illumination light that has transmitted through the transmitted filter group [ 3 ] may illuminate an observation specimen [ 9 ] on a stage [ 8 ] from below the space of the stage [ 8 ] via a transmitted field iris, which is not shown in FIG. 1 , a transmitted AS [ 6 ] being an aperture stop and a condenser lens [ 7 ].
  • the stage [ 8 ] can move the observation specimen [ 9 ] two-dimensionally on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis (scanning of the observation specimen). Furthermore, the stage [ 8 ] can be moved in the direction of the optical axis in order to focus the observation specimen [ 9 ].
  • a plurality of object lenses [ 11 ] and [ 12 ] is held by a nose-piece [ 10 ] above the stage [ 8 ].
  • An object lens to be inserted in the optical axis of an observation light path [LP 3 ] can be exchanged by the rotation of the nose-piece [ 10 ].
  • the nose-piece [ 10 ] is fixed to, for example, the arm's top end of the microscope main body in such a way as to freely rotate.
  • a cube turret [ 13 ] is installed above the nose-piece [ 10 ]
  • the cube turret [ 13 ] is provided with a fluorescence cube [ 14 ] that can be selectively inserted in/removed from according to various observation methods.
  • the fluorescence cube [ 14 ] is provided together with an excitation filter [ 15 ] and an barrier filter [ 16 ].
  • a reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ] inputs light from a reflected illumination light source [ 17 ] consisting of a mercury lamp or the like to the fluorescence cube [ 14 ] inserted in the light path of the cube turret [ 13 ] via a reflected light filter group [ 19 ], a reflected light AS [ 23 ] being an aperture stop and a reflected light field iris, which is not shown in FIG. 1 . Then, the reflected light is reflected in the direction of the observation specimen [ 9 ]. Thus, the observation specimen [ 9 ] can be illuminated.
  • the reflected light filter group [ 19 ] comprises a plurality of ND filters (reflected light ND 1 [ 20 ]/reflected light ND 2 [ 21 ]) and a reflected light shutter [ 22 ].
  • the ND filters (reflected light ND 1 [ 20 ]/reflected light ND 2 [ 21 ]) adjusts the brightness of light without changing the color temperature of the reflected illumination light source [ 17 ].
  • the reflected light shutter [ 22 ] is inserted in the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ] and shields the reflected illumination light source [ 17 ].
  • the observation specimen [ 9 ] is magnified by an object lens [ 11 ] or [ 12 ] fixed to the nose-piece [ 10 ] and inputted to a camera lens [ 35 ] via the cube turret [ 13 ].
  • the inputted magnified image is formed by the camera lens [ 35 ] in such a way as to focus on the CCD [ 36 ].
  • the electric control system comprises a transmitted illumination light source light adjustment circuit [ 24 ], a transmitted light filter driver circuit [ 25 ], a transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ], a focus driver circuit [ 27 ], an XY stage driver circuit [ 28 ], a nose-piece driver circuit [ 29 ], a cube driver circuit [ 30 ], a reflected light illumination light source lighting circuit [ 31 ], a reflected light filter driver circuit [ 32 ], a reflected light AS driver circuit [ 33 ] and a microscope control unit [ 34 ].
  • the transmitted illumination light source light adjustment circuit [ 24 ] lights the transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ] and adjusts its illumination intensity.
  • the transmitted light filter driver circuit [ 25 ] puts the transmitted light ND 1 [ 4 ] and ND 2 [ 5 ] in the transmitted light filter group [ 3 ] IN/OUT of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] using a well-known insertion/removal mechanism.
  • the transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ] controls the opening/closing of the iris of the transmitted AS [ 6 ].
  • the focus driver circuit [ 27 ] drives the stage [ 8 ] in the vertical direction of the observation light path [LP 3 ] and brings the observation specimen [ 9 ] into focus.
  • the XY stage driver circuit [ 28 ] drives the stage [ 8 ] to move the observation specimen [ 9 ] in the perpendicular direction of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ].
  • the nose-piece driver circuit [ 29 ] rotates the nose-piece [ 10 ] to insert the object lens [ 11 ] or [ 12 ] in the observation light path [LP 3 ].
  • the cube driver circuit [ 30 ] inserts/removes the cube [ 14 ] in the cube turret [ 13 ] in/from the observation light path [LP 3 ].
  • the reflected illumination light source lighting circuit [ 31 ] controls the lighting of the reflected illumination light source [ 17 ].
  • the reflected light filter driver circuit ( 32 ) puts the reflected light ND 1 [ 20 ] and ND 2 [ 21 ] in the reflected light filter group [ 19 ] and the reflected light shutter [ 22 ] IN/OUT of the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ].
  • the reflected light AS driver circuit [ 33 ] controls the opening/closing of the iris of the reflected light AS [ 23 ]).
  • the microscope control unit [ 34 ] gives necessary instructions to the transmitted illumination light source light adjustment circuit [ 24 ], the transmitted light filter driver circuit [ 25 ], the transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ], the focus driver circuit [ 27 ], the XY stage driver circuit [ 28 ], the nose-piece driver circuit [ 29 ], the cube driver circuit [ 30 ], the reflected illumination light source lighting circuit [ 31 ], the reflected light filter driver circuit [ 32 ] and the reflected light AS driver circuit [ 33 ].
  • the microscope control unit [ 34 ] also sets and changes the optical state of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ], the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ] and the observation light path [LP 3 ].
  • the observation image formed on the CCD [ 36 ] is photo-electrically converted by the CCD [ 36 ].
  • the photo-electrically converted signal is inputted to an A/D converter [ 40 ] via an image signal processing adjustment unit [ 37 ] consisting of a CDS [ 38 ] and an AMP [ 39 ].
  • the CCD [ 36 ], the CDS [ 38 ] and the A/D converter [ 40 ] are driven by a timing generator [ 41 ] in a desired state.
  • the digital signal (image data) from the A/D converter [ 40 ] is inputted to an image processing circuit [ 70 ] via a frame memory [ 42 ]. After being adjusted in a desired adjustment state by the image processing circuit [ 70 ], the digital signal is transmitted to the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • the camera control unit [ 43 ] for conducting the control of the imaging system instructs a timing generator [ 41 ] to control timings, changes the amplification factor of the AMP [ 39 ] and controls the frame memory [ 42 ] and the image processing circuit [ 70 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] is equivalent to, for example, a personal computer and controls the system in a desired state by giving instructions to the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the camera control unit [ 43 ]. Then, the system control unit [ 44 ] enables the display unit [ 46 ] to display camera data from the image processing circuit [ 70 ] via display memory [ 45 ]. The system control unit [ 44 ] also gives necessary instructions to the microscope observation system according to instructions from an operation unit [ 47 ].
  • Each of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the camera control unit [ 43 ] has the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of each of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the camera control unit [ 43 ].
  • One example of the well-known CPU circuit configuration is shown as the basic configuration of both the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the camera control unit [ 43 ] shown in FIG. 2 .
  • a CPU [ 60 ], ROM [ 61 ] and RAM [ 62 ] are connected to each other by a CPU bus [ 63 ].
  • the ROM [ 61 ] stores a program.
  • the RAM [ 62 ] stores data used when the program are executed. By providing nonvolatile memory or the like, which are not shown in FIG. 2 , the data can be stored even after the power supply is shut down.
  • a dedicated I/F circuit [ 65 ] is connected to the CPU bus [ 63 ].
  • the CPU bus [ 63 ] is connected to necessary driver circuits via this dedicated I/F circuit [ 65 ].
  • a PC I/F circuit [ 64 ] is also connected to the CPU bus [ 63 ] in order to connect it to the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • the configuration of the system control unit [ 44 ] also is equivalent to the well-known internal configuration of a PC and FIG. 3 shows its one example.
  • FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] comprises a CPU [ 48 ] for executing a program, non-volatile memory, such as an HDD, for storing the program and main memory [ 50 ] for reading data needed to execute the program and the program itself and performing the process at high speed. These are connected each other by a system bus [ 51 ].
  • the CPU [ 48 ] executes the program.
  • the HDD [ 49 ] is used for the nonvolatile memory for storing the program.
  • the main memory [ 50 ] reads data needed to execute the program and the program itself and performing the process at high speed.
  • the HDD [ 49 ] there are various well-known connecting methods. However, in this specification, the description of bridges (connecting means) necessary for each connecting method is omitted.
  • the operation unit [ 47 ] is connected via a well-known universal serial bus (USB) and obtains information from a USB I/F unit [ 78 ].
  • USB universal serial bus
  • a well-known keyboard [ 58 ] and a pointing device, such as a mouse [ 59 ] are used.
  • Each of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the camera control unit [ 43 ] is also connected via an I/F of IEEE1394 rating and connected via an IEEE1394 I/F unit [ 57 ]. It can also be connected via a camera I/F unit [ 56 ].
  • a graphic controller [ 55 ] is used to output image data in accordance with the input signal form of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the graphic controller [ 55 ] outputs the display data of the display memory [ 45 ] as signals in accordance with the resolution and scan speed (display alteration speed) of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • a well-known LCD monitor or a CRT monitor is used for the display unit [ 46 ].
  • Each of the graphic controller [ 55 ], the camera I/F unit [ 56 ], the IEEE1394 I/F unit [ 57 ], the USB I/F unit [ 78 ] comprises an I/F unit (the display I/F [ 52 ], a general bus I/F [ 53 ]) for being connected to the system bus [ 51 ]. Each part can be controlled by the CPU [ 48 ] using these I/F units. Such a configuration for connecting different types of buses is generally called a bus bridge [ 54 ].
  • FIG. 4 is a top view showing the device structure of the CCD [ 36 ].
  • photo-diodes [ 201 ] are disposed in a matrix arrangement.
  • a plurality of vertical transfer paths [ 202 ] is disposed between these photo-diodes in the column direction.
  • One horizontal transfer path [ 203 ] is disposed at the bottom of this vertical transfer path [ 202 ]) in the longitudinal direction.
  • Signal charge accumulated in the photo-diode [ 201 ] is read out to the vertical transfer path [ 202 ] by a charge transport pulse [TG] and is transferred toward below the paper in the vertical transfer path [ 202 ].
  • the signal charge transferred to the vertical transfer path [ 202 ] is transported to the horizontal transfer path [ 203 ], is transferred toward the left direction of the paper in this horizontal transfer path [ 203 ] and is transferred to a signal detection unit [ 204 ].
  • the signal of the signal detection unit [ 204 ] is amplified up to a desired level and finally is outputted to the outside via an AMP (reading amplifier) [ 205 ].
  • a part for generating a signal for driving such a CDD [ 36 ] is the timing generator [ 41 ].
  • the timing generator [ 41 ] supplies various drive signals to the CDD [ 36 ].
  • One example of such a drive signal is shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 5 is the timing chart of CCD drive (normal operation) In this case, the vertical synchronizing signal VD shown in FIG. 5 [ a ] is outputted in one frame cycle. The horizontal synchronizing signal HD shown in FIG. 5 [ b ] is outputted for each line.
  • the charge transport pulse TG shown in FIG. 5 [ c ] is outputted for each frame.
  • the signal charge is read out to the vertical transfer path [ 202 ] from the photo-diode [ 201 ] as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the V transfer pulse shown in FIG. 5 [ d ] is outputted as a charge transfer pulse for transferring charge in the vertical transfer path [ 202 ] in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal HD.
  • the charge discharge pulse VSUB shown in FIG. 5 [ e ] is outputted by two pulses in synchronization with the charge transport pulse TG (in the cycle of V transfer pulse).
  • This charge discharge pulse VSUB discharges the accumulated charge of the photo-diode [ 201 ] to the substrate side by the first pulse and exposure is started by the subsequent pulse.
  • the CCD [ 36 ] discharges the charge in the photo-diode [ 201 ] to the substrate side by the first pulse of the charge discharge pulse VSUB. Then, the CDD [ 36 ] specifies the time between the subsequent pulse and the charge transport pulse TG as exposure time. At this moment, the CCD [ 36 ] outputs an image signal (FIG. 5 [ g ]) at the timing of this charge transport pulse TG.
  • the accumulated amount of light in the case where a certain amount of light is inputted to the photo-diode [ 201 ] is the amount of exposure as shown in FIG. 5 [ f ].
  • an image signal is delayed by one frame and outputted. Specifically, data A is outputted during exposure B.
  • CDD drive power which is not shown in FIG. 1 , is also supplied to a CCD drive power supply [ 206 ].
  • the signal outputted from the CCD [ 36 ] is inputted to the CDS [ 38 ].
  • the CDS [ 38 ] extracts only signal output which can be handled as image data in later circuits out of the signal from the CCD [ 36 ].
  • FIG. 5 [ g ( 2 )] shows the magnified view of data for one line of FIG. 5 [ g ].
  • the signal outputted from the CCD [ 36 ] is divided into data for one line as shown in FIG. 5 [ g ( 2 )] and finally is handled as data of one pixel (one photo-diode [ 201 ]).
  • One example of data signals for one pixel of the photo-diode [ 201 ] is shown in FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 6 shows a CCD data output waveform for one pixel.
  • the period FIG. 6 [Ta] is the data output period for one pixel. This period is roughly divided into three output periods of a reset period FIG. 6 [Tr] for resetting output charge, a field-through period FIG. 6 [Tf] for outputting the output reference signal and a data period [To] for outputting data.
  • the CDS [ 38 ] samples each of the field-through level during the field-through period [Tr] ( FIG. 6 [Vf]) and an output level (FIG. 6 [Vo]). Then, the CDS [ 38 ] extracts the difference between the field-through level (FIG. 6 [Vf]) and the output level (FIG. 6 [Vo]), outputs it as image data and inputs it to the amplifier (AMP) [ 39 ].
  • the signal at the output level is converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter [ 40 ]. If the output signal from the CDS [ 38 ] is low, its gain is increased and is amplified up to a desired level.
  • the image signal converted to a digital signal is temporarily stored in the frame memory [ 42 ].
  • processes by methods other than the gain amplification in the case where the output signal from the CDS [ 38 ] is low are also described.
  • accumulation time it becomes necessary to accumulate sufficient charge by extending the charging time (hereinafter refer to as accumulation time) to charge the photo-diode [ 201 ].
  • the timing chart in the case where the accumulation time is extended is shown in FIG. 7 .
  • FIG. 7 shows the timing chart of the CCD driving (operation in case of extending the charging time).
  • Vertical synchronizing signal VD, horizontal synchronizing signal HD and V transfer pulse are the same as in FIG. 5 , thus the explanation is omitted.
  • FIG. 7 shows one example of the case where exposure (FIG. 7 [ f ′]) for two frames exposure time (exposure A′) is made possible by thinning out the charge transport pulse TG shown in FIG. 7 [ c ′]. Since the discharge of charge must be suppressed during exposure, the charge transport pulse VSUB (FIG. 7 [ e ′]) is not outputted.
  • the exposure time is controlled.
  • the amount of light inputted to the CCD [ 36 ] is very little, sufficient charge can be accumulated.
  • image data little affected by noise can be obtained.
  • the accumulation time must be shortened.
  • the amount of light is so much that it is saturated by exposure for one frame, the accumulation time cannot be shortened any more. In such a case, the amount of exposure is adjusted using the electronic shutter mode.
  • FIG. 8 is the timing chart of CCD drive (operation in the electronic shutter mode).
  • the vertical synchronizing signal VD, the horizontal synchronizing signal HD, the charge transport pulse TG and the V transfer pulse are controlled in the same timing as shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the exposure time becomes for one frame. Therefore, the accumulation time can be controlled only to the same level as shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the charge discharge pulse VSUB (FIG. 8 [ e ′′]) is used. Specifically, the charge discharge pulse VSUB (FIG. 8 [ e ′′]) continues to be outputted until the time exposure is desired to start within one frame and the charge of the photo-diode [ 201 ] is reset.
  • the actual exposure time becomes “time for one frame ⁇ VSUB output time” and exposures (exposure A′′/exposure B′′/exposure C′′) can be controlled in a shorter time than one frame.
  • the timing of writing the image signal (FIG. 8 [ g ′′]) into the frame memory [ 42 ] is the same as shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the accumulation time is extended and exceeds a certain time, the interval of data output from the CCD [ 36 ] increases.
  • the writing interval into the frame memory also increases.
  • the update interval of images displayed on the display unit [ 46 ] also increases. Therefore, if desiring to display an image whose data changes, the display speed cannot follow the data change. For example, even when the stage [ 8 ] is driven and the observation position is shifted, the display speed itself of the display unit [ 46 ] cannot often follow the stage moving speed.
  • the sensitivity can be increased using a method called binning.
  • the CCD [ 36 ] usually handles one pixel of the photo-diode [ 201 ] shown in FIG. 4 as one piece of data. However, in the binning method the CCD [ 36 ] collects and outputs a plurality of pieces of the data of one pixel. Thus, the sensitivity can be increased without changing the accumulation time.
  • the signal charge accumulated in the photo-diode [ 201 ] shown in FIG. 4 is read out to the vertical transfer path [ 202 ] by the charge transport pulse [TG] (FIG. 5 [ c ]) and is transferred toward below the paper in the vertical transfer path [ 202 ].
  • the charge is transported to the left direction of the paper in the horizontal transfer path [ 203 ] and is transferred to the signal detection unit [ 204 ].
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B show CCD data output waveforms at the time of binning application.
  • FIG. 10A shows an image signal [g( 2 )] in the case of usual reading and one reset pulse [i] is inserted for each pixel.
  • FIG. 10B operation is performed while the occurrence interval of a reset pulse is thinned out like the reset pulse [i′′′] and the charge of output 2 is added while the charge of output 1 remains in the signal detection unit [ 204 ].
  • charge for two pixels (actually four pixels since charge for two pixels are added together in the step of vertical transfer (FIG. 10 [Vo 1 +Vo 2 ])) or for the specified number of pixels can be collectively read out. Therefore, the sensitivity can be increased without increasing noise.
  • the addition process is performed in the later step after each pixel data is read at a time, the accumulated signal can be obtained as an output signal.
  • noise at the time of reading increases according to the number of reading, its influence is great when handling very weak charge.
  • the amount of reflected light is little, the binning process is very effective.
  • the output timing of data becomes different by thinning out the occurrence of the reset pulse [I′′′].
  • the timing of the field-through level [Vf] is the same as that (FIG. 10 [sampling 1 ]) in the normal operation. However, the timing of output data shifts from FIG. 10A [sampling 2 ] to FIG. 10 B[sampling 2 ′]. It is necessary not to read the data of the first pixel ( FIG. 10 [output 1 ]) and to sample in the data output timing of the second pixel ( FIG. 10 [output 2 ]). Therefore, in the binning mode, the sampling timing of the CDS [ 38 ] is changed.
  • the light ON/OFF and adjustment of amount of light of the transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ] can be performed by the transmitted illumination light adjustment circuit [ 24 ].
  • the transmitted illumination light adjustment circuit [ 24 ] In the case of the light source of the conventional microscope, particularly in the case of bright field observation using a dyed specimen or the like, generally color temperature is maintained constant in order to observe using an eyepiece lens and, for example, in a case of halogen lamp, approximately 9 [V] is used.
  • a part to observe is the LCD monitor and the like indicated as the display unit [ 46 ]. Therefore, color is finally corrected by white balance adjustment and the like and can also be linearly controlled between OFF and the maximum brightness.
  • the correction of image data such as white balance adjustment after it is picked up by the CCD [ 36 ] is performed by the image processing circuit [ 70 ]. Besides white balance adjustment, ⁇ correction, various filtering process and the like are also performed by this image processing circuit [ 70 ].
  • the transmitted light ND 1 [ 4 ] and ND 2 [ 5 ] are filters capable of reducing light without changing the wavelength characteristic of the transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ].
  • ND filters having the transmittance shown in Table 2 are used. This preferred embodiment is described according to the values shown in Table 2.
  • the amount of light applied to the observation specimen [ 9 ] can be adjusted according to the combinations #0-#3 shown in Table 3 although it is conducted discontinuously.
  • the transmitted light AS [ 6 ] can also be defined as one of the parameters of light amount change.
  • the essential role of the transmitted light AS [ 6 ] is to adjust the numerical aperture of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] in accordance with the numerical aperture of a used object lens ([ 11 ] or [ 12 ]).
  • a used object lens approximately 70-80% of its pupil diameter is suitable for balanced observation image.
  • the transmitted light AS [ 6 ] is often included in the condenser lens [ 7 ].
  • This transmitted light AS [ 6 ] can be one of the adjustment parameters of the amount of light inputted to the CCD [ 36 ] depending on its adjustment state.
  • the amount of light also changes depending on the type of the object lenses [ 11 ] and [ 12 ] in the observation light path [LP 2 ].
  • the converting operation itself of an object lens is not used as the active parameter of the light amount adjustment, the following description is made assuming that the object lenses provide only fixed values.
  • the fluorescence cube [ 14 ] can also give a fixed value like the object lenses. If the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] is used, the fluorescence cube [ 14 ] is removed from the observation light path [LP 3 ].
  • the parts related to light amount adjustment in the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ] are as follows.
  • the reflected illumination light source [ 17 ] is a mercury lamp, a Xe lamp or the like, which is lit by discharge. Therefore, only either lighting or extinction can be selected for the light amount adjustment. However, it is difficult to rapidly control. For example, since it can be re-lit only after waiting a time (several minutes) until arc discharge is stabilized after a discharge tube is lit or re-lit itself cannot be allowed for a certain time (10-15 minutes) after it is extinguished.
  • a reflected light shutter [ 22 ] is provided for the reflected light filter group [ 19 ]
  • the light of the reflected illumination light source [ 17 ] is shielded to make a state equivalent to an extinguished state.
  • a reflected light ND 1 [ 20 ] and ND 2 [ 21 ] are provided for the reflected light filter group [ 19 ].
  • a reflected light AS [ 23 ] functions in the same way as the transmitted light As [ 6 ]
  • the operation of the reflected light AS [ 23 ] can be one of the adjustment parameters of the amount of light inputted to the CCD [ 36 ].
  • Light source control Continuous control The reflected (transmitted is possible illumination light illumination light (transmitted). source cannot be source [1]/reflected controlled. illumination light The wavelength source [17]) characteristic of the light source changes.
  • ND filter control Light can be reduced In this preferred (transmitted light ND1 without changing the embodiment, only [4]/ND2 [5]/reflected wavelength of the discontinuous light ND1 [20]/ND2 [21]) light source. (gradual) adjustment is possible.
  • observation method of a microscope is also briefly described.
  • various observation methods in a microscope according to its observation objective and usage. For example, there is a bright field observation method in which the specific part of the observation specimen [ 9 ] is dyed in color and an image that has transmitted through the observation specimen [ 9 ] is observed.
  • phase difference observation method for expressing the phase deviation of a fine tissue as a gradation difference using a non-dyed observation specimen [ 9 ].
  • differential interference observation method for three-dimensionally expressing an observation image.
  • observation specimen [ 9 ] There is also a dark field observation method for illuminating the observation specimen [ 9 ] from the outer-circumference (outside the luminous flux of the object lenses [ 11 ] and [ 12 ]) of the illumination light path [LP 1 /LP 2 ] and observing the diffused reflection of the observation specimen [ 9 ].
  • polarized light observation method for observing fibrous cells, amyloids and the like which have polarizing characteristic.
  • fluorescence light observation method for applying a specific strong wavelength light to the observation specimen [ 9 ] dyed by a fluorescence reagent and catching the reaction of its dyed part (specific part). In this way, an observation method can be selected according to the usage and the observation specimen [ 9 ] can be observed.
  • an observation light path (transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ]/reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ], etc.), an object lens ([ 11 ]/[ 12 ], etc.), the condenser lens [ 7 ], the fluorescence cube [ 13 ], various filters ([ 4 ], [ 5 ]/[ 20 ], [ 21 ], etc.), alight source ([ 1 ]/[ 17 ], etc.), the state of an aperture ([ 6 ]/[ 23 ], etc.) and the like must be optimally set.
  • the description is made using a typical bright field observation and a fluorescence light observation.
  • [IN] indicates the state where a target part is inserted in the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] or the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ] and [OUT] indicates a state out of the light path.
  • the brightness distribution of obtained image data differs according to an observation method. Therefore, a light measuring method must be switched for each observation method in such a way as to display an image in the optimum state.
  • [BP mode] is a calculation mode suitable for a state where the entire image field is uniformly illuminated while the back field (portion other than a specimen) is bright so that brightness difference with the observation part is small.
  • this mode the entire image or its part is extracted, its average value is used as a light measurement target and the brightness of the image is adjusted.
  • This mode is mainly suitable for the bright field, differential interference and phase difference observation.
  • [FL mode] is a light measuring method suitable for the case where the background is very dark against an observation part and the brightness difference between the observation part and the background is large. This mode is most suitable for the fluorescence observation and an operation is performed by determining the distribution and intensity of fluorescence color development in this mode.
  • FIG. 11 shows one example of the display screen of the display unit [ 46 ] in the first preferred embodiment.
  • an observation screen [ 79 ] and an operation MENU [ 80 ] are shown on the display unit [ 46 ].
  • an image inputted to the CCD [ 36 ] is displayed after the above-described imaging process.
  • an operation MENU [ 80 ] specification buttons corresponding to the above-described observation methods (BF button [ 81 ] and FL button [ 82 ]) are displayed.
  • An observer operates a pointer [ 89 ], for example, like a pointer track [ 90 ] by operating the mouse [ 59 ] of the operation unit [ 47 ] in the well-known mouse operation way and moves the pointer [ 89 ] to the BF button [ 81 ]. Then, by pushing down the button, which is not shown in FIG. 11 , of the mouse [ 59 ], the observer instructs the microscope to switch to the bright field observation method.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] recognizes from the display coordinates of the BF button [ 81 ] and the current display coordinates of the mouse [ 89 ] that the BE button [ 81 ] is specified and starts its control. By moving the pointer [ 89 ] on the FL button [ 82 ] by the similar operation, the system control unit [ 44 ] can also instruct the microscope to switch to the fluorescence observation.
  • buttons (X+ button [ 83 ]/X ⁇ button [ 84 ]/Y+ button [ 85 ]/Y ⁇ button [ 86 ]) for moving the stage [ 8 ] in the XY direction (perpendicular to the observation light path [LP 3 ]) are also provided.
  • buttons (UP button [ 87 ]/DOWN button [ 88 ]) for vertically moving the stage [ 8 ] in order to focus on the observation specimen [ 9 ] are also provided together (see the later descriptions for each operation of them).
  • FIG. 12 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (microscope control).
  • a program for executing the process described in FIG. 12 is stored in the HDD [ 49 ].
  • the program is read from the HDD [ 49 ] by the CPU [ 48 ] and executed.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] When the power supply of the system, which is not shown in FIG. 12 , is switched on, the system control unit [ 44 ] initializes the system [S 1 ]. In the system initialization, generally the system returns to the state where it has previously been shut down. After the system initialization [S 1 ] is completed, the system enters the waiting state. Then, the system control unit [ 44 ] starts receiving drive instructions from the operation unit [ 47 ].
  • a flag for let other programs (tasks) know that it is in the microscope driving state is set [S 3 ].
  • a well-known multi-task process is performed and in parallel with it another process (imaging process sequence described later) is performed.
  • the current state must be reported to other tasks.
  • the current observation method and data capable of determining whether the microscope is being driven are stored in the observation method driving state data [Data 1 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] checks a setting state corresponding to the specified observation method by the HDD [ 49 ] (data (Table 5) stored in FIG. 3 ) and gives a drive instruction to the microscope control unit [ 34 ].
  • the microscope control unit [ 34 ] sets each part to an optimum state according to the drive instruction.
  • illumination light itself is controlled in order to prevent the unnecessary light input during driving. As described earlier, it is difficult to frequently extinguish/light the reflected illumination light source [ 17 ]. Therefore, in order to insert the reflected light shutter [ 22 ] in the reflected light illumination light path [LP 2 ] to shield illumination light, the reflected light filter driver circuit [ 32 ] is driven to control the reflected light shutter [ 22 ]
  • the inserting/removing operation of filters is performed while giving priority to such control as to make the observation light path [LP 3 ] dark. Firstly, such sequence as to insert all the filters are to be inserted in the light path beforehand is performed. If the transmitted light ND 1 [ 5 ] is not inserted in the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ], such an instruction is given to the transmitted light filter driver circuit [ 25 ] to insert the transmitted light ND 1 [ 5 ] in the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ].
  • An instruction is given to the transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ] to set aperture to 80%. 80% indicates its ratio to the pupil diameter.
  • the actual instruction given to the transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ] must be a mechanical aperture diameter. Therefore, the microscope control unit [ 34 ] converts the instruction to an absolute aperture diameter.
  • the numerical aperture, focal length (in the case of transmitted light AS of the object lens and AS projection magnification (in the case of reflected light AS) and the focal length (in the case of transmitted AS) of the condenser lens [ 7 ] are used.
  • [OBna] is the numerical aperture of an object lens and is a fixed value for each object lens.
  • [CDf] is the focal length of a condenser lens to be used and also each lens has a fixed value.
  • the data shown in Table 6 and the focal length [CDf] of a condenser lens are stored in the non-volatile memory, which is shown in FIG. 1 , or the ROM [ 61 ] together with a program.
  • [OBfb] is the back focal length of an object lens and in this preferred embodiment it is operated as a fixed value of 8.00 [mm].
  • [ASmag] is an AS projection magnification and is stored in the ROM [ 61 ] of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] together with [OBfb].
  • the numerical aperture [OBna] of a currently-selected object lens and the focal length [CDf] of the condenser lens [ 7 ] are read from Table 6.
  • [Kas] indicates an actual aperture ratio and is a correction coefficient indicated by a brightness ratio assuming that 100% is 1.
  • a dedicated aperture value can be set for each observation method by making this value variable and recording them.
  • the microscope control unit [ 34 ] refers to the stored data shown in Table 6 and the like to obtain a condenser top lens focal length [CDf], the numerical aperture of an object lens [OBna] and an AS correction coefficient [Kas].
  • An actual AS diameter can be calculated according to Equation (3).
  • the microscope control unit [ 34 ] sets the aperture diameter by driving the transmitted light AS driver circuit [ 26 ] in order to control the transmitted light AS [ 6 ] to set the aperture diameter to the AS diameter calculated above.
  • the reflected light AS [ 23 ] can also be controlled by using Equation (2) and the reflected light AS driver circuit [ 33 ].
  • the transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ] is lit in a specified state by controlling the transmitted illumination light source light adjustment circuit [ 24 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] notifies the camera control unit [ 43 ] of switching of the light measuring method.
  • control sequence (control order) is very effective when using a photo-multiplier tube for detecting weak light, a special highly-sensitive CCD and the like as an imaging device to prevent the damage and deterioration of the device.
  • the observation method can be also switched to fluorescence observation by controlling in reference to the data shown in Table 5.
  • an enlarged specimen image is observed by the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the image of the observation specimen [ 9 ], projected by the specified observation method is formed on the CCD [ 36 ] via the tube lens [ 35 ].
  • the camera control unit [ 43 ] obtains the gain of the AMP [ 39 ] specified by the system control unit [ 44 ], the accumulation time of the CCD [ 36 ] and the observation image inputted in the binning setting through the above-described camera sequence (photo-electric conversion, amplification process, etc.). Then, the image data of the obtained observation image is stored in the frame memory [ 42 ] as camera data.
  • the image data stored in the frame memory [ 42 ] is transferred to the system control unit [ 44 ] after a prescribed adjustment (well-known white balance adjustment, various filtering process, etc.) is applied.
  • a prescribed adjustment well-known white balance adjustment, various filtering process, etc.
  • color complementation such as R/G/B, Y/Cb/Cr or the like, is applied to its image data by the image processing circuit [ 70 ] and is transferred to the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • the image data transmitted from the image processing circuit [ 70 ] is sequentially transferred to the observation screen display area of the display memory [ 45 ] by the CPU [ 48 ] via the display I/F [ 52 ].
  • the operation MENU [ 80 ] and the like are also displayed besides the image data.
  • the camera data is transferred to a memory address corresponding to the display position of the observation screen [ 79 ] shown in FIG. 11 .
  • the transferred data is repeatedly displayed by the graphic controller [ 55 ] at a predetermined frequency within the specified range of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • FIG. 13 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (light measurement, display mode control).
  • the program of the process contents shown in FIG. 13 is also stored in the HDD [ 49 ] as in FIG. 12 .
  • the system is initialized [S 5 ].
  • a prescribed setting (return to the state at the time the power is previously shut down, etc.) is reported to the camera control unit [ 43 ]. Then, the camera control unit [ 43 ] is initialized to enter a state where the CCD [ 36 ] can capture images. As described a little earlier, this process ( FIG. 13 ) and the microscope driving process ( FIG. 12 ) are simultaneously performed in parallel by the CPU [ 48 ]. In order to check each other's state, common data (HDD [ 49 ] and main memory [ 50 ]) is provided. Each other's state is checked by setting, for example, [Data 1 ] as the common data.
  • observation method is changed [S 6 ].
  • Observation method driving state data [Data 1 ] is checked. If the observation method is changed, a display-mode changing process ([S 7 ] ( FIG. 14 )) is performed. This display-mode changing process [S 7 ] is described later. Here, it is assumed that bright field (BF) observation is currently set and is not changed.
  • BF bright field
  • FIG. 15 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process at the time of bright field observation). Firstly, a light measuring process [S 11 ] is applied to the latest image data. Data equivalent to a currently displayed image is stored in the main memory [ 50 ] by the process of the CPU [ 48 ]. Its exposure adjustment state is checked by applying a light measuring operation to the data.
  • a light measuring operation is performed in a BF mode.
  • the operation is performed using well-known average light measurement.
  • the average light measurement calculates the entire image or the average value of all images in a specified area, not shown. Over/Under exposure is determined by whether the operation result is larger/smaller than the light measurement reference value.
  • FIG. 17 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure at the time of bright field observation). The definitions of the terms used in FIG. 17 are shown below.
  • ND In ND filter is inserted in the light path.
  • ND Max All ND filters are inserted in the light path.
  • [Speed] is equivalent to the data input interval of the frame memory [ 42 ], that is, the data output interval of the CCD [ 36 ].
  • [sMin] can be checked by the information of a display driver [ 74 ] (see FIG. 23 ) that controls the graphic controller [ 55 ] that outputs data to the currently set display unit [ 46 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] in this preferred embodiment corresponds to a publicly known PC.
  • FIG. 23 shows the structure of a program executed by the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • a publicly known operation system (OS) [ 71 ] that controls the entire device is positioned at the top. Under it there is an application layer [ 72 ]. Under it there is a driver layer [ 73 ]. This driver layer [ 73 ] is an I/F part that enables hardware [ 77 ] to be controlled by the application layer [ 72 ].
  • the hardware [ 77 ] corresponds to, for example, the graphic controller [ 55 ], camera I/F unit [ 56 ], IEEE input 1394 I/F unit [ 57 ], keyboard [ 58 ] and the like in this preferred embodiment.
  • the display driver [ 74 ], a communication driver [ 75 ], an input device driver [ 76 ] and the like are provided for each of these I/F units, keyboard and the like.
  • information shown in Table 7 can be obtained from the display driver [ 74 ], and the determination in [S 16 ] is made on the basis of this information. According to Table 7, [sMin] in this preferred embodiment becomes 60[Hz].
  • [Accumulation time (+)] in FIG. 17 means to extend accumulation time (same in the consequent flowchart). Conversely, [Accumulation time ( ⁇ )] means to shorten accumulation time. If [Speed] exceeds (is longer than) [sMin], the following step [S 18 ] is performed.
  • an instruction to expand an aperture diameter by a specified number is given to the microscope control unit [ 34 ] (step goes to termination of the process in FIG. 17 ). This is performed in order to adjust exposure and also to restore the amount of light to an optimum state, since if aperture is unnecessarily small the resolution of the observation image inputted to the CCD [ 36 ] deteriorates and also the amount of light is wasted.
  • step [S 20 ] If aperture is already optimum (80%), the following step [S 20 ] is performed. According to Table 5, the flow shifts to a step [ 20 ].
  • [ND In] in FIG. 17 indicates a state where even one ND filter is inserted in a light path. If either/both of the transmitted ND 1 [ 4 ] or/and ND 2 is inserted in the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ], the ND filter is removed.
  • the system control unit [ 22 ] gives an instruction to the microscope control unit [ 34 ] to make the ND filter brighter by one step ([#1] ⁇ [#0] in Table 3). Specifically, the transmitted filter driver circuit [ 25 ] is driven to spin the transmitted ND 1 [ 4 ] out of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] [S 21 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] checks how much illumination light is changed by the removal of the ND filter. Since according to Table 3, it is changed from [#1] to [#0], the light reduction ratio of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] becomes from 50% to 0%. Therefore, it can be recognized that its amount of light is doubled. Thus, the amount of light inputted to the CCD [ 36 ] is also doubled.
  • step [S 20 ] If in step [S 20 ] all NDs are OUT of the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ], the flow shifts to a step [S 24 ].
  • a filter to be inserted is inserted in the light path and then a filter to be removed is removed from the light path.
  • the careless input of the excessive amount of light can be prevented.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] checks whether [Speed] is equal to or faster than [sMin] and also is in the range of display speed [sMax] sufficiently fast to make a comfortable specimen observation.
  • the gain of the AMP [ 39 ] is amplified and exposure is adjusted. It is determined whether magnification [Gain] is larger than [gLimit] [S 26 ].
  • [Gain] is the signal amplification factor of the AMP [ 39 ].
  • [gLimit] is a limit of amplification factor up to which the influence of signal noise against image data (S/N) can be tolerated. In the field of the present invention, [gLimit] is technically specified to be an observable amplification factor up to which it is sufficiently bright to identify images in the state where it is amplified approximately 8 to 16 times.
  • the currently set number of binning is checked and it is checked whether the number of binning is smaller than [bLimit]. If the number of binning is increased, sensitivity is improved. However, the resolution of images deteriorates by so much.
  • the limit number of binning up which resolution deterioration can be tolerated is specified as [bLimit].
  • [bLimit] can be calculated on the basis of, for example, an optical system to be used and the pixel pitch of the photo-diode [ 201 ] of the CCD [ 36 ].
  • the maximum number of binning in which the sampling pitch of capturing image by binning becomes equal to or less than 1 ⁇ 2 of the resolution R is calculated.
  • the maximum integer B of 1 or more satisfying Expression (6) is calculated, assuming that B, R and p are the numbers of binning, the above calculated resolution and the pixel pitch of the photo-diode [ 201 ], respectively.
  • B ⁇ R/ 2 p (6) For example, if the pixel pitch of the photo-diode [ 201 ] of the CCD [ 36 ] and the projection magnification of the tube lens [ 35 ] are 3.4[ ⁇ m] and 2[X], respectively, the number of binning B can be obtained as follows. Firstly, the output NA can be obtained according to Equation (4).
  • [bLimit] changes depending on the object lens to be used ([ 11 ]/[ 12 ]), the characteristic of the CCD [ 36 ] and the intermediate magnification factor.
  • the control is performed on the basis of this [bLimit].
  • the binning limit value [bLimit] can be determined based on the resolution of a display area of the observation screen [ 79 ] of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the resolution of a monitor can be obtained by the display driver [ 74 ]( FIG. 23 ) as in Table 7, like the earlier-described refresh rate.
  • the resolution of a monitor can be calculated on the basis of this resolution and an actually displayed screen structure (layout, coordinate data and the like of the observation screen [ 79 ] and the operation MENU [ 80 ]).
  • the increased brightness is corrected by reducing gain [ 30 ].
  • gain is reduced to 1 ⁇ 4 of its current value.
  • aperture is controlled again.
  • aperture is controlled in such a way as to become optimum.
  • an aperture diameter is extended up to 100% where the maximum brightness can be secure.
  • gain is controlled within a certain specified range. However, this time, gain is controlled up to the maximum gain [gMax] that can be controlled by the camera control unit [ 43 ] without considering noise. If the current gain is smaller than [bMax], gain is increased [S 39 ] ( ⁇ termination of the process in FIG. 17 ). If the current gain is already [gMax], the following step [S 40 ] is performed.
  • accumulation time is adjusted again in order to provide an observable condition although losing operability. Although the limit of a comfortable operation [sMax] is exceeded, accumulation process is continued up to the necessary accumulation time [S 40 ] ( ⁇ termination of the process in FIG. 17 ).
  • the process at the time of Under exposure is performed.
  • FIG. 18 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Over exposure at the time of bright field observation).
  • Over exposure process (1) adjustment parts are controlled in the reverse order of the process priority in the Under exposure process (1) ( FIG. 17 ). Since its basic operation is the same as the Under exposure process (1), only their differences are described.
  • Processes [S 41 ] and [S 42 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-10] shown in FIG. 17 . If the speed is equal to or less than [sMax], accumulation time control ( ⁇ ) is performed.
  • Processes [S 43 ] and [S 44 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-9] shown in FIG. 17 . If a gain equal to or more than [gLimit] is applied, the gain is reduced down to [gLimit].
  • Processes [S 45 ] through [S 49 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-8] shown in FIG. 17 . If binning control more than necessary is applied, the process of reducing the number of binning down to [bLimit] is performed. However, in this case, a determination value being a control reference differs from that shown in FIG. 17 . In the case of reducing binning, if exposure is attempted to be linearly adjusted after reducing binning, a correction work [S 47 ] by another adjustment unit is needed. Therefore, the determination must be made with taking an operation after correction into consideration.
  • Processes [S 50 ] and [S 51 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-9] shown in FIG. 17 . If aperture is opened more than an optimum value (80%), it must be narrowed down to 80%.
  • Processes [S 52 ] through [S 56 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-6] shown in FIG. 17 . If binning is applied, the binning is reduced down to no binning. The determination process in this case is performed by taking a state after gain correction [S 53 ] into consideration as in [Zone-8′].
  • Processes [S 57 ] and [S 58 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-5] shown in FIG. 17 . If a gain is applied, the gain is reduced down to no gain.
  • Processes [S 59 ] and [S 60 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-4] shown in FIG. 17 . If [Speed] is between [sMin] and [sMax], exposure is adjusted by an accumulation time control ( ⁇ ) process.
  • Processes [S 61 ] through [S 65 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-3] shown in FIG. 17 . In this case too, it is determined whether ND filter should be controlled on the basis of whether the accumulation time in the case where accumulation time is corrected after an ND filter is inserted exceeds [sMin] [S 62 ].
  • Processes [S 66 ] and [S 67 ] are the reverse processes of [Zone-2] shown in FIG. 17 .
  • [asLimit] is set to the Min value of the physical diameter of the transmitted light AS [ 6 ] or an arbitrary value in the range where resolution deterioration due to aperture closing can be tolerated (for example, 50%) and control is performed using the above numeric value [asLimit] as its target.
  • FIG. 19 is the exposure adjustment control program chart at the time of bright field observation in the first preferred embodiment.
  • the horizontal axis is the exposure time in the case of no control.
  • Speed [L 1 ] is a line indicating the displacement of the accumulation time of the CCD [ 36 ] and its vertical axis is [J 1 ].
  • Gain [L 2 ] is a line indicating the displacement of the amplification factor (gain) of the AMP [ 39 ] and its vertical axis is [J 2 ].
  • Binning [L 3 ] is a line indicating the displacement of the state of the CCD [ 36 ] under binning control and its vertical axis is [J 3 ].
  • ND [L 4 ] is a line indicating the ND insertion state of the transmitted light ND filter group [ 3 ] and its vertical axis is [J 4 ].
  • [L 5 ] is a line indicating the aperture state displacement of the transmitted light AS[ 6 ] and its vertical axis is [J 5 ].
  • step [S 8 ] shown in FIG. 13 when the observation method is an FL mode, a fluorescence process [S 10 ] ( FIG. 16 ) is performed.
  • FIG. 16 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process at the time of fluorescence observation). The same step reference numerals are attached to the same processes as in FIG. 15 and their descriptions are omitted.
  • a light measuring process [ 69 ] is applied to the latest image data. As to the light measuring operation, this time, it is performed in an FL mode.
  • [FL mode] is a light observation method suitable for the case where a background is very dark against an observation part and the brightness difference between the observation part and the background is large.
  • [FL mode] is the most suitable measuring method for fluorescence observation, in which an operation is performed taking into consideration the distribution and intensity of fluorescence color development.
  • the light measuring operation result and the light measurement reference value are compared.
  • the fluorescence process ( FIG. 16 ) is terminated without performing any process and the flow returns to the higher-order function (program that has called up this process ( FIG. 16 )).
  • FIG. 20 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure at the time of fluorescence observation). Its description is made below with reference to FIG. 20 .
  • Exposure is adjusted by only accumulation time control until accumulation time reaches [sMax]([S 72 ] and [S 73 ]).
  • Exposure is adjusted by gain amplification until gain reaches [gLimit]([S 26 ] and [S 27 ]).
  • Exposure is adjusted by binning control until binning reaches [bLimit]([S 28 ] through [S 31 ]).
  • the process contents are the same as [S 20 ] and [S 21 ].
  • the control target part of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] is changed to the reflected light filter group [ 19 ].
  • the aperture is opened up to 100% ([S 32 ] and [S 33 ]).
  • the process contents are the same as those of [S 32 ] and [S 33 ] shown in FIG. 17 .
  • the control target part of the microscope control unit [ 34 ] is changed to the reflected light AS [ 23 ].
  • Binning control is performed until binning reaches [bMax]([S 34 ] through [S 37 ]).
  • Gain is increased until gain reaches [bMax].
  • FIG. 14 is the flowchart of the process in the first preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure in fluorescence observation).
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] temporarily stores the states of the currently set exposure adjustment parts (Table 8) in the main memory [ 50 ] or the HDD [ 49 ] (setting state saving data [Data 2 ]).
  • This virtual state data [Data 3 ] is used when performing a virtual operation process [S 83 ], which is described later.
  • the current light measurement data is obtained from the setting state (setting state saving data [Data 2 ]).
  • a light measurement target value used for the light measuring operation is calculated on the basis of the setting state saving data ([Data 2 ][S 81 ]) and is stored [Data 4 ].
  • a virtual operation process is performed in order to make this light measurement target value optimum according to the priority of adjustment parameters in the altered observation method [S 82 ] through [S 84 ].
  • the virtual operation process [S 83 ] is the same as those in FIGS. 17 and 18 or FIGS. 20 and 21 to compute the exposure adjustment in the changed observation method. This is performed assuming that the virtual state data [Data 3 ] is a device, without controlling actual devices. A virtual operation is performed while updating the data of the virtual state data [Data 3 ].
  • the brightness of an observation image is due to appropriate exposure in each of a bright field observation method and a fluorescence observation method. If exposure is not appropriate, as to the microscope side an ND filter and aperture size (AS) are controlled, and as to the camera side the charge accumulation time of the CCD and binning are controlled. Thus, an optimum observation state can be obtained.
  • AS ND filter and aperture size
  • the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described.
  • the optimization of a microscope and a camera when displaying observation images in a high quality mode is described. Namely, in this preferred embodiment, exposure adjustment parts that cause image quality deterioration are excluded from its control targets. Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, priority is given to observation with high image quality even if operability is somewhat sacrificed. Therefore, a limit [sMax 2 ] which is slower by one step than a comfortable operation limit [sMax] is provided and control is performed.
  • the basic configuration of this preferred embodiment is the same as the first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 .
  • the process contents of the system control unit differ from those of the first preferred embodiment.
  • FIG. 24 shows one example of the screen structure of the display unit [ 46 ] in the second preferred embodiment.
  • the image quality selection menu [ 91 ] for images displayed on the observation screen [ 79 ] is provided.
  • the image quality selection menu [ 91 ] is provided with a Normal button [ 92 ] for displaying images by the method described in the first preferred embodiment and a High button [ 93 ] for displaying images with high image quality. Since the other components are the same as those shown in FIG. 11 , the same reference numerals as in FIG. 11 are attached to them and their descriptions are omitted.
  • the mode can be switched by switching the control priority of exposure adjustment by the same method as that at the time of observation method switching. Processes applied then are performed according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 .
  • FIGS. 17 and 18 or FIGS. 20 and 21 are replaced with those shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 , respectively.
  • FIGS. 25 and 26 The process of a High mode ( FIGS. 25 and 26 ) is described below.
  • FIG. 25 is the flowchart of the process in the second preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure in a High mode).
  • [sMax 2 ] which is slower by one step than a comfortable operation limit [sMax] is provided and control is performed.
  • exposure is adjusted in the reverse control order of that of Under exposure.
  • FIG. 26 is the flowchart of the process in the second preferred embodiment (process in the case of Over exposure in a High mode). Processes ([Zone-35′] through [Zone-31′] are performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 26 . Control is applied to each zone according to the program chart shown in FIG. 27 .
  • control by lowering the priority of operating a mechanism in which brightness changes discontinuously such as ND filters and the like and a mechanical driver unit that takes time in its switching/modifying operations in the light-amount adjustment of an observation image in the case where a stage operation is manually made is described.
  • FIG. 28 shows the basic configuration of the third preferred embodiment.
  • the basic configuration of this preferred embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 .
  • a nosepiece position detection unit [ 66 ] and a stage operation detection unit [ 67 ] are provided instead of the nosepiece driver circuit [ 29 ] and the XY stage driver circuit [ 28 ] shown in FIG. 1 , respectively.
  • this preferred embodiment is operated by a manual operation unit [ 68 ] which is operated by an observer directly touching a driver unit, instead of the operation unit [ 27 ] of the system control unit [ 44 ].
  • the stage operation detection unit [ 67 ] detects that the stage has been operated. Then, the microscope control unit [ 34 ] notifies the system control unit [ 44 ] of its state.
  • the third preferred embodiment is characterized in that the system control unit [ 44 ] switches a display mode on the basis of this driving state of the microscope observation system. For example, it is realized by adding the processes [ 92 ] through [ 97 ] shown in FIG. 29 to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 .
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] recognizes that the microscope stage is currently driven, on the basis of the observation method driving state data [Data 1 ]. If it is currently driven, during-movement exposure processes ([S 93 ] through [S 95 ]) dedicated for during driving are performed.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] checks whether there is saved data already [ 93 ].
  • the saved data is an exposure control parameter immediately prior to the microscope is operated.
  • the contents of the saved data are the same as shown in Tables 8 and 9.
  • a process of saving the current setting state is performed only at the first time [S 94 ].
  • the saved data is temporarily stored in the main memory [ 50 ] or the HDD [ 49 ] as pre-movement setting data [Data 6 ].
  • the during-movement exposure process [ 95 ] (that is, the flow shown in FIG. 30 ) is performed. Firstly, the process is selected according to its exposure state, Over or Under.
  • the priority of operating a mechanism whose brightness discontinuously changes such as an ND filter and the like and a mechanical driver unit that takes time in its switching/modifying operations is lowered and control is performed. Since the control operation is the same as that in the first preferred embodiment, the same step reference numerals are attached to them and their descriptions are omitted.
  • control priority of Over exposure is reverse to that of Under exposure.
  • control is performed while the priority of adjustment parts whose amount of light discontinuously changes and mechanical driving parts is left lowered, without greatly changing the priority as follows.
  • Min in step [S 99 ] indicates the minimum accumulation time, that is the minimum accumulation time of the electronic shutter mode of the CCD [ 36 ].
  • the mode must be restored to a normal mode, that is, the optimum display mode of the current observation method or a display mode specified by the observer.
  • a priority restoration process [S 97 ] ( FIG. 31 or 32 ) is performed to optimize the display mode.
  • FIG. 31 is the flowchart of the process in the third preferred embodiment (priority modification process No. 1).
  • the process shown in FIG. 31 is simplest.
  • Setting state data [Data 6 ] before the microscope (stage) moves (optimum exposure state setting data at that moment) is read in [S 102 ] and the setting is temporarily restored to the pre-movement setting state [S 103 ]. Then, by controlling exposure again in normal sequence in the current specimen state and observation state, control is completed with desired priority and a display state can be optimized.
  • the restoring process can be performed by the process shown in FIG. 32 .
  • FIG. 32 is the flowchart in the third preferred embodiment (priority modification process No. 2).
  • the process ( FIG. 14 ) whose basic operation is almost the same as that in the case where an observation method is changed is performed.
  • the same reference numerals are attached to the same process contents as in FIG. 14 and only their differences are described.
  • a virtual state is reset as the initial value of the virtual state data.
  • the pre-movement setting state data stored in [Data 6 ] is copied [S 104 ].
  • the virtual operation process [S 83 ] starts from this state and adjustment parts to be altered are extracted. Then, only the adjustment parts needed to be altered are operated and a display mode is optimized.
  • the control priority of the control target adjustment parts is modified by the above-described operation.
  • the rapid brightness change of an observation image displayed on the observation screen [ 79 ] can be suppressed.
  • a display state having good visibility can be maintained and a smooth observation state can be provided.
  • FIG. 33 shows the basic configuration of the fourth preferred embodiment. Its microscope part and camera part are the same as those shown in FIG. 1 . However, the fourth preferred embodiment differs from the above-described preferred embodiments in that a general-purpose I/F is used to transfer image data from the microscope control unit [ 34 ], the camera control unit [ 43 ] and image processing circuit [ 70 ].
  • a general-purpose I/F is used to transfer image data from the microscope control unit [ 34 ], the camera control unit [ 43 ] and image processing circuit [ 70 ].
  • the general-purpose I/F is a general communication unit used to connect components to PC, such as a well-known USB2 communication, IEEE1394 communication or the like.
  • a general-purpose I/F conversion unit [ 681 ] is provided in order to transmit/receive data by this general-purpose I/F, and the microscope is connected to the system control unit [ 44 ] by a general-purpose I/F cable [ 69 ] via the above-described general-purpose I/F conversion unit [ 681 ].
  • the general-purpose I/F has a limit in the amount of data to transmit depending on communication speed and the speed varies depending on its type.
  • USB2 as a general-purpose I/F.
  • USB2 The communication speed of USB2 is 480 Mbps, which is assumed to be [ComMax]. Actually, data cannot be transferred at its maximum speed when taking into consideration the control of a protocol, accompanied data, the communication condition of the other equipments connected to a general-use I/F. However, in this preferred embodiment, it is assumed that data is transferred at its maximum speed for convenience' sake.
  • the speed of taking in data from the CCD [ 36 ] is determined taking this communication speed into consideration. It is characterized that data is not taken in faster than needed, the reliability of data and the operability is secured while obtaining data whose noise is reduced.
  • control method is the same as in the first through third preferred embodiments.
  • control is performed using the maximum transfer speed [sMin] calculated according to Equation (10) instead of the monitor display limit speed of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the basic configuration of this preferred embodiment is the same as in the first preferred embodiment. However, its process contents differ from that of the first preferred embodiment.
  • This preferred embodiment is featured by the process in the case where the microscope control unit [ 34 ] controls the stage [ 8 ] ([S 4 ] shown in FIG. 12 ).
  • image data is displayed as shown in FIG. 34 .
  • FIG. 34 explains the display contents change of the observation screen [ 79 ] in the case where the stage [ 8 ] is moved in the fifth preferred embodiment (No. 1).
  • FIG. 34 shows the state in which the observation specimen [ 9 ] is mounted on the stage [ 8 ] and the area of the observation screen [ 79 ]-Frame ( 1 ) is displayed on the observation screen [ 79 ] of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the moving speed of the stage [ 8 ] is fast or the taking speed of the CCD [ 36 ] is slow, the previously displayed images completely disappear from the observation screen [ 79 ] when displaying a subsequent frame as shown in FIG. 35 and there is a possibility that an observation point may become unclear. Therefore, it is preferable that at least 1 ⁇ 4 of the previously displayed image remains on the observation screen [ 79 ], as shown in FIG. 36 .
  • a limit is set in the maximum moving speed according to the data taking interval (accumulation time) of the CCD [ 36 ].
  • FIG. 37 shows the flowchart of the stage driving process as one example of the microscope driving process [S 4 ].
  • the stage moving operation in the XY direction is specified by the stage moving buttons (X+ [ 83 ]/X ⁇ [ 84 ]) of the operation MENU [ 80 ].
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] obtains the current image taking speed from [Data 7 ] [S 106 ]. It is assumed that the image taking speed [Data 7 ] is written in also when controlling the accumulation time of the CCD [ 36 ]. For example, it is simultaneously updated when performing [S 17 ], [S 25 ] and [S 40 ] shown in FIG. 17 .
  • the maximum moving speed in the case where the stage is driven is calculated [S 107 ]. Firstly, the length in the X direction of the observation specimen [ 9 ] currently displayed on the observation screen [ 79 ] of the display unit [ 46 ] is calculated.
  • the image forming magnification of the tube lens [ 35 ] and the magnification of the object lens [ 11 ] are 1[x] and 10 [x], respectively, and that the effective pixel range of the CCD [ 36 ] is 8 [mm]*6 [mm].
  • the range displayed on the observation screen in the X direction becomes 800[ ⁇ m].
  • the maximum speed in the case of stage drive can be calculated by dividing this value by the taking speed obtained from [Data 7 ].
  • stage movement is started [S 109 ]. If image taking speed changes during the stage movement so that the parameters needs to be modified, parameter modification [S 111 ] is performed to modify the parameter.
  • stage moving speed can be restricted by the display speed (update interval) of an observation image displayed on the display unit [ 46 ]. Therefore, an observation point is prevented from being lost at the time of observation.
  • the light-amount adjustment is not optimized until the movement stops.
  • the movement of a specimen is detected by the operating state of the microscope.
  • the movement of a specimen is directly detected and exposure is adjusted.
  • the basic configuration of this preferred embodiment is the same as those of the above-described preferred embodiments ( FIGS. 1 , 28 and 33 ).
  • FIG. 38 is the flowchart of the process in the sixth preferred embodiment (process during specimen movement).
  • the detection is computed by a well-known correlative deviation detection method by comparing the latest image data being a light measurement target this time (in the main memory [ 50 ]) with image data computed/detected previously. For example, as shown in FIG. 39 , the line profile of the brightness data of the previous image data [L 101 ] and image data of this time [L 102 ] are created and their correlation ⁇ d is calculated. If it is determined that there is any deviation or deviation more than a specific value between both on the basis of the correlation ⁇ d, it is recognized that the specimen has moved.
  • the flow returns to a normal process and the light measurement process [S 69 ] is performed.
  • image data of this time is stored in [Data 8 ] in order to use in a next time comparison and the process is terminated. Namely, the light measurement process [S 69 ] is not performed and the current exposure control state is maintained. Then, the process is terminated.
  • the exposure of a specimen having brightness distribution as shown in FIG. 39 is adjusted to become optimum in the range of a light measurement area [A].
  • the area [ ⁇ A] shown in FIG. 39 was included in the light measurement area.
  • the area [ ⁇ A] shown in FIG. 39 goes out of the light measurement area and is put out of its operation target. If the operation is performed in that state, the light measurement reference value deviates, the brightness of the specimen differs from the previous one and the specimen brightness flickers. In order to prevent this, the previous exposure adjustment value is maintained and the brightness is stabilized.
  • the brightness of observation target parts can be maintained stable and the visibility in specimen observation is improved.
  • the seventh preferred embodiment is featured by adding the following points to the sixth preferred embodiment.
  • a light measurement process is not performed.
  • exposure is adjusted.
  • FIG. 40 is the flowchart of the process in the seventh preferred embodiment. Since the processes up to [S 116 ] are the same as in the sixth preferred embodiment, their descriptions are omitted.
  • the process contents of the priority modification process [S 118 ] are almost the same as those shown in FIG. 14 .
  • the process contents of the priority modification process [S 118 ] differ from those shown in FIG. 14 only in Over/Under exposure process used in the virtual operation process [S 83 ].
  • the process used for the virtual operation is shown in FIG. 41 .
  • FIG. 41 is the flowchart of the exposure control process during specimen movement and the priority of adjustment parts that control exposure is almost the same as the control priority shown in FIG. 30 .
  • the different point is that it is limited to more than the limit value [sMin] of display speed. Namely, the control priority of adjustment parts is lowered by rote as in stage movement case. Further, the value of [sMin] differs from those of the first through sixth preferred embodiments and the current setting is changed according to the moving speed of a specimen.
  • control is possible in the range of [Min] to [sMin].
  • control ([S 122 ], etc.) is performed in the range not exceeding [sMin].
  • This preferred embodiment is applied when recording images observed in the first through seventh preferred embodiments as video image data. Specifically, in this preferred embodiment, exposure is not controlled during recording. When controlling exposure during recording, the priority of exposure adjustment parts is modified and the number of adjustment parts is limited.
  • a recording operation MENU [ 95 ] is displayed on the operation MENU [ 80 ] of the display unit [ 46 ].
  • a REC (record) button [ 96 ] for starting recording and a STOP button [ 97 ] for stopping recording are displayed.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] modifies the priority of exposure adjustment parts.
  • the switching in the first through seventh preferred embodiments is performed in the same way.
  • the recording aims to record the brightness changing state of an observation image and so on, the changing state cannot be caught if exposure itself is adjusted.
  • exposure control itself is skipped by the process shown in FIG. 43 .
  • FIG. 43 is the flowchart of the process in the eighth preferred embodiment (process at the time of fluorescence observation).
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] recognizes that the REC button [ 96 ] is pushed on the operation unit [ 47 ]. Then, the system control unit [ 44 ] INPUTs the fact that images are being recorded to the observation method driving state data [Data 1 ]. In exposure control ( FIG. 43 ), it can be determined that images are being recorded according to the state of [Data 1 ]. If images are being recorded, a process [S 123 ] is performed in which exposure is not adjusted. If images are not being recorded, a normal process [S 69 ] is performed.
  • Data obtained during recording is converted into a well-known video image format (AVI/MPEG, etc.) by the system control unit [ 44 ] and is stored in the HDD [ 49 ] or a recording medium, which is not shown in FIGS. 1 , 28 and 33 . During that time, exposure adjustment control is skipped.
  • AVI/MPEG video image format
  • FIG. 44 is the flowchart of the process in the eighth preferred embodiment (exposure control process during recording).
  • the [S 124 ] shown in FIG. 44 is control at the time of Under exposure.
  • the [S 125 ] shown in FIG. 44 is control at the time of Over exposure. In both controls, priority is given to correction by gain adjustment. Then, exposure is adjusted by varying accumulation time. The other parts are excluded from its control targets and observed images are recorded in their stable states.
  • the ninth preferred embodiment is characterized such that [gLimit] is not set to a prescribed value but is specified on the basis of the detection result of an S/N noise detection unit.
  • [gLimit] is a specific value.
  • the noise level detection process is performed in the system initialization [S 1 ] and [S 5 ] performed by the microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the camera control unit [ 43 ].
  • the detection process flow is shown in FIG. 45 and is described.
  • FIG. 45 is the flowchart of the process in the ninth preferred embodiment (noise data detection process). Firstly, all formed images are removed from the CCD [ 36 ]. Then, by the microscope control unit [ 34 ] the transmitted illumination light source [ 1 ] is extinguished and the reflected light shutter [ 22 ] is inserted in the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ] [S 126 ]. In this case, it is assumed that the entire system is covered with a shelter to prevent external leak light from entering it.
  • the accumulation time of the CCD [ 36 ] is fixed to [sMax] and no binning is selected.
  • image data is obtained [S 128 ] when the gain of the AMP [ 39 ] is increased [S 130 ] from 1x [S 127 ].
  • its noise level is checked [S 129 ] and gain [gLimit] is determined.
  • the camera data is equivalent to obtaining CCD reading noise plus the circuit noise of the image signal processing adjustment unit [ 37 ].
  • [gLimit] is determined by this signal level (noise).
  • the operation process [S 129 ], for example, determines whether the average value of the output data of [Gain( 1 )] through [Gain(n)] shown in FIG. 46 exceeds the reference value [Data(th)]. Gain immediately prior to exceeding the reference is specified as [gLimit]. In the case of FIG. 46 , since [Gain( 8 )] exceeds the reference value [Data(th)], [gLimit] can be set to 7[x]([gLimit] 7[x]).
  • Circuit noise and CCD noise also varies depending on temperature change. Therefore, this detection process is performed every certain time, or alternatively, a temperature detection unit can be provided and the noise detection process is performed when temperature change is detected. Thus, more accurate noise detection becomes possible and, accordingly observation images can be stabilized.
  • this preferred embodiment provides a system which satisfies even a skilled person.
  • a skilled person considers that an observer familiar to a microscope and a camera desires to set an observation image in a desired state. For example, sometimes such an observer desires to observe images in the fixed state of aperture, binning setting and the like.
  • the tenth preferred embodiment can provide a system capable of handling such condition.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] updates the data of a list of adjustment control parts like Table 11 and excludes the set parts from its control targets. According to Table 11, currently AS is manually adjusted by an observer and is removed from the control targets.
  • Table 11 The contents of Table 11 are stored in the HDD [ 49 ] of the system control unit [ 44 ], the main memory [ 50 ] or the like as adjustable/non-adjustable data [Data 9 ].
  • the determination process [S 135 ] shown in FIG. 47 is performed as the pre-processing of [S 18 ] shown in FIG. 17 . If it is not a targeted adjustment part based on the determination, a subsequent process ([S 18 ] in this case) is skipped.
  • control is performed giving priority to the adjustment value in the adjustment part operated by an observer.
  • priority of accumulation time control is the lowest in the step of [S 22 ] after [S 20 ] and [S 21 ] are controlled, correction and control are performed using gain adjustment instead.
  • a microscope observation system having good operability and visibility that satisfies even a skilled person somewhat familiar to a microscope and a camera and desiring to adjust an observation image to his/her taste in addition to an observer unfamiliar to a microscope and a camera can be provided.
  • adjustment parts controlled by exposure adjustment is only on the microscope or camera.
  • the post-processing of the system control unit [ 44 ] is also included in the adjustment parts and is controlled.
  • FIG. 48 is the flowchart of the process in the eleventh preferred embodiment (process in the case of Under exposure in fluorescence observation). Since its basic process is almost the same as that in the flowchart shown in FIG. 20 , the same reference numerals are attached to the same processes and their descriptions are omitted.
  • [adMax] indicates the maximum addable number of pieces of image data.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] increases the number of adding pieces of image.
  • the screen data and image brightness increases accordingly (at least double or more) and also increases gradually. Therefore, even in this preferred embodiment, gain correction [S 138 ] which is performed also in ND control and binning control is performed. Since data is increased in the post-processing, when light measurement is performed, it must be determined whether the state is optimum taking this condition into consideration. Thus, the current addition data is stored in light measurement reference value data [Data 10 ] in such a way that it is possible to be referred to at the time of light measurement operation evaluation. As shown in FIG.
  • the light measurement reference value data [Data 10 ] when performing the light measurement [S 69 ], the light measurement reference value data [Data 10 ] is referenced and a subsequent process is performed according to this result. For example, when the number of added pieces of image data is two, the light measurement reference value data [Data 10 ] becomes its half.
  • display brightness is controlled by the post-processing on the display side.
  • display brightness can be increased without damaging a frame rate apparently. Therefore, the comfortable operation range can be extended.
  • a microscope observation system for adjusting the display size of image data on the basis of the resolution of a monitor is described.
  • the twelfth preferred embodiment relates to a method for displaying image data on the display unit [ 46 ] in the first through eleventh preferred embodiments. Since the system configuration of this preferred embodiment is the same as that of the first preferred embodiment ( FIG. 1 ), its description is omitted.
  • the display size of the observation screen [ 79 ] of the display unit [ 46 ] is the same as the size of image data, as shown in FIG. 52A .
  • the image data size is smaller than the display size, blank is caused on the observation screen, as shown in FIG. 52B .
  • the image data size is larger than the display size, only a part of image data can be displayed, as shown in FIG. 52C .
  • the size of image data must be adjusted in such a way as to match the size of the observation screen [ 79 ].
  • FIG. 53 when performing binning, an enlargement/compression process is needed according to monitor resolution (the display size of the observation screen [ 79 ]). In the case of no binning (full resolution) and Binning [2 ⁇ 2], a size compression process is performed. In the case of Binning [3 ⁇ 3] and [4 ⁇ 4], an enlargement process is performed. The display process is shown in FIG. 54 .
  • FIG. 54 is the flowchart of the process in the twelfth preferred embodiment (image size changing process).
  • the resolution of a currently used monitor (the display unit [ 46 ]) is obtained from the display driver [ 74 ] and the current size of the display area on the observation screen is calculated [S 16 ].
  • the size of image data stored in the main memory [ 50 ] is checked [S 147 ] and compares the display area size and the image data size. If the image data size is larger than the monitor display size, a well-known image compression process [S 149 ] is performed. If the image data size is smaller than the monitor display size, a well-known image enlargement process [S 150 ] is performed. The size-adjusted image data is transferred to the display memory [ 45 ] and a display process is performed [S 151 ].
  • This process is performed for each frame and a continuous image display process is performed. Thus, even when a binning process is performed and the image size is changed, the image can be observed without the change of image size.
  • FIG. 55A shows the case where the adjustment parts to which continuous adjustment can be applied, such as gain control, accumulation time control or the like (exposure can be adjusted in somewhat fine steps) is adjusted.
  • Figs. up to FIG. 55A ( 2 ) show the state where exposure is optimally adjusted ([Frame(A)] in FIG. 55A ) and it is assumed that the brightness of a specimen changes to Under exposure state in FIG. 55 A( 3 ) ([Frame(B)] in FIG. 55A ). Then, exposure adjustment is applied to the image in FIG. 55 A( 3 ) and in FIG. 55 A( 4 ) the state returns to the original state where exposure is optimally adjusted ([Frame(A)] in FIG. 55A ), thus the brightness of the observation image [ 79 ] hardly changes.
  • FIG. 55B ( 4 ) when exposure is controlled by an adjustment part in which the amount of light discontinuously changes, such as an ND filter, binning control and the like, as shown in FIG. 55B ( 4 ), an image immediately after control becomes very bright like [Frame (c)] in FIG. 55B (dark in the case of Over exposure). Therefore, it becomes very difficult to observe the image. In the case of binning control, switching is completed after several frames. However, it takes much time to control the mechanical adjustment of an ND filter and the like. Furthermore, when a plurality of filters is inputted/outputted and so on, the transition state in control is also displayed on the observation screen [ 79 ]. Then, in FIG. 55B ( 5 ), an image after accumulation time correction ( ⁇ ) ([Frame (B′)] in FIG. 55B having the same brightness as [Frame(B)] in FIG. 55B ) is also displayed as it is.
  • ⁇ image after accumulation time correction
  • FIG. 56 is the flowchart of the process in the thirteenth preferred embodiment (complementary process control).
  • FIG. 56 shows only the differences (a complementary control portion) from the first preferred embodiment ( FIG. 17 ). Its entire control flow is very similar to that shown in FIG. 17 .
  • the image data of the main memory [ 50 ] is sequentially transferred to the display memory [ 45 ] and is displayed on the display unit [ 46 ]. This transfer operation is temporarily stopped. Thus, the lastly transferred image (the last image determined to be Under exposure ([Frame(B)] in FIG. 55C ) is displayed on the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the above-described complementary process is also applied to the case where adjustment control of discontinuously changing exposure is performed (for example, [Zone-3], [Zone-6] and [Zone-8] shown in FIG. 17 , [Zone-3′], [Zone-6′] and [Zone-8′] shown in FIG. 18 etc.).
  • adjustment complementary process can be applied.
  • image data immediately prior to controlling the discontinuous adjustment parts is displayed on the display unit [ 46 ].
  • the displayed image differs from that in the thirteenth preferred embodiment.
  • image data to which a light measurement process is applied differs from actually stored data (image data to be displayed during control). Therefore, in this preferred embodiment, image data used in a light measurement process is stored in the display unit [ 46 ].
  • image data used for light measurement is stored in the maim memory [ 50 ], the HDD [ 49 ] or the like as stored image data [Data 11 ].
  • the light measurement process [S 69 ] is performed using this stored image data [Data 11 ].
  • FIG. 58 (a variation of FIG. 56 ).
  • FIG. 58 is the flowchart of the process in the fourteenth preferred embodiment (complementary process control).
  • data to be transferred to the display memory [ 45 ] is switched to the stored image data [Data 11 ] saved at the time of light measurement.
  • the complementary process is terminated [S 153 ] it is restored to the latest regular image data in the main memory.
  • the brightness change of an observation image can be suppressed further than that in the thirteenth preferred embodiment. Furthermore observation is possible in good visibility.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments and it can be variously transformed in its application as long as its intention is not deviated.
  • the above-described preferred embodiments also include inventions in various steps and various inventions can be extracted from the appropriate combination of a plurality of disclosed components. For example, even when several components are removed from all the components shown in the preferred embodiments, the configuration from which these components are removed can be extracted as a new invention configuration as long as the effect described on the problems to be solved by the present invention is obtained.
  • each unit described as its component can also be transformed as long as its intention is not deviated.
  • the following variations are possible.
  • the circuit configuration and operation of an interline type CCD are described.
  • various types of CCD such as a frame inter-line type, a frame transfer type, can also be used. It is not only limited to a CCD, but CMOS and the like can be also used.
  • CMOS and the like can be also used.
  • the amount of light is reduced by combining filters having different transmittances. In this case, naturally, the amount of light can also be reduced by a plurality of ND filters having the same transmittance. Also, ND filters whose transmittance can be continuously changed can also be used.
  • a filter whose light amount transmittance can be changed by evaporating ND having different transmittances in a disk shape and rotating the disk is used.
  • an ND filter is classified as an adjustment part whose amount of light is discontinuously adjusted, it can be also used as an adjustment part whose amount of light can be continuously adjusted according to the above reason.
  • aperture has been described as a continuous adjustment part assuming diaphragm structure. However, for example, a component provided with a plurality of openings having different aperture diameters in a disk shape (turret shape) is rotated so that aperture can be discontinuously adjusted.
  • the stage operation in the fifth preferred embodiment has been described as that of an XY stage.
  • the stage operation of the XY stage can also be used in focus drive for focusing.
  • the reference of moving speed in that case is the focal depth of an object lens.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] has been described as a PC.
  • the system control unit [ 44 ] can also be comprised of a well-known CPU circuit or the like.
  • the camera control unit [ 43 ], microscope control unit [ 34 ] and the like can also be collected into one.
  • an object lenses are attached to the nose-piece [ 10 ].
  • magnification changing unit a zoom lens whose magnification can be continuously changed or the like can also be used.
  • an observation method the switching between bright field observation and fluorescence observation is described.
  • a plurality of other observation methods can also be prepared and can also be switched.
  • priority is attached to exposure adjustment parts for each selected observation method and control can be performed by switching the priority for each observation method.
  • the variations in the case where its several components are removed also include such conditional selection as no priority change, no exposure adjustment or the like at the time of observation method switching. For example, in the case of bright field observation, only a well-known exposure adjustment of camera (gain adjustment and accumulation time control) can be performed. In the case of fluorescence observation, priority can also be determined including the adjustment parts on the microscope side and exposure can be adjusted.
  • control by priority can also be performed only at the time of fluorescence observation and dark field observation and in other cases exposure can also be adjusted by a well-known adjustment unit and so on.
  • the operation switching by the selection of an illumination system is also included in the variations. In that case, it is determined which is selected, the transmitted illumination light path [LP 1 ] or the reflected illumination light path [LP 2 ], and control is performed according to the priority of adjustments parts set for each light path at the time of exposure adjustment.
  • the operation and the contents of a display screen can also be changed as long as the intention of the present invention is not deviated. For example, a stage can also be controlled by the drag operation of the mouse [ 59 ] and wheel rotation.
  • the microscope observation system of the above-disclosed preferred embodiment comprises a microscope ( 1 - 34 ) having an optical system for enlarging/observing a specimen, a camera unit ( 36 ) for photo-electrically converting a specimen image obtained by the microscope to an image signal, a light-amount adjustment unit ( 34 ) for controlling an adjustment part group ( 3 , 6 , 19 and 23 ) included in the microscope in order to suppress the amount of reflected light of the specimen image formed on the camera unit, an camera adjustment unit ( 43 ) for controlling the adjustment part groups of the camera unit in order to adjust the image signal photo-electrically converted by the camera unit to a desired state, a light measurement unit ( 43 ) for measuring the brightness of the specimen image on the basis of the image signal, a display unit ( 46 ) for displaying a captured image generated on the basis of the image signal, a control unit ( 44 ) for controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit to control continuous display speed indicating a continuous display interval of images continuously displayed on the display unit and at least either
  • control unit ( 44 ) can control the continuous display speed by controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the lower limit of the continuous display speed Speed [L 1 ] may become the lowest observable and operable display speed of the display unit.
  • control unit can also control the continuous display speed by controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit in such away that the upper limit of the smallest interval of the continuous display speed may become a display interval by the maximum frame rate of the display unit.
  • control unit can also control the continuous display speed by controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the shortest time until an image is converted to data displayable on the display unit after it is photo-electrically converted by the camera unit becomes the display interval based on the maximum frame rate.
  • control unit can also control the continuous display speed by specifying the upper limit of the continuous display speed using reading speed at which an image signal photo-electrically converted by the camera unit is read out as the reference and controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises an external communication unit ( 681 ) for transmitting a image signal to which a prescribed imaging process is applied after being photo-electrically converted by the camera unit, and the control unit can also control the continuous display speed by specifying the upper limit of the continuous display speed on the basis of the maximum data transfer speed of the external communication unit and controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • an external communication unit 681
  • the control unit can also control the continuous display speed by specifying the upper limit of the continuous display speed on the basis of the maximum data transfer speed of the external communication unit and controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • control unit can also control the continuous display speed by specifying the lowest observable and operable display speed of the display unit as the lower limit of the continuous display speed and the maximum frame rate of the display unit as the upper limit of the continuous display speed and controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit.
  • control unit can also control the continuous display speed by specifying the lowest observable and operable display speed of the display unit as the lower limit of the continuous display speed and the maximum frame rate indicated as the upper limit of speed until an image is converted to data displayable on the display unit after it is photo-electrically converted by the camera unit as the upper limit of the continuous display speed and controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the continuous display speed may enter a range between the lower limit and the upper limit.
  • control unit can also recognize the change of the movement of the specimen itself when the observation position shifting unit is not operating or the moving state is not detected by the observation state detection unit and stop controlling the continuous display speed when recognizing that the specimen is moving.
  • the microscope observation system comprises two or more adjustment parts in total which are controlled by the light-amount adjustment unit and by the camera adjustment unit respectively, and the control unit can also control the continuous display speed by giving priority to the adjustment order of the adjustment parts and lowering the control priority of at least either one of the followings, adjustment part in which the resolution of a captured image to be adjusted changes or the adjustment part which affects the noise level of the photo-electrically converted electric signal.
  • the microscope observation system comprises two or more an adjustment parts in total which are controlled by the light-amount adjustment unit and by the camera adjustment unit respectively, and the control unit can also control the continuous display speed by giving priority to the adjustment order of the adjustment parts and lowering the control priority of an adjustment part in which the amount of light applied to the specimen tends to increase.
  • the microscope observation system comprises two or more adjustment parts in total which are controlled by the light-amount adjustment unit and by the camera adjustment unit respectively, and the control unit can also control the continuous display speed by giving priority to the adjustment order of the adjustment parts and lowering the control priority of the adjustment part caused by increasing the interval of the continuous display speed.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises an image recording unit ( 49 ) for recording images continuously displayed, and the control unit can control the continuous display speed by controlling the light measurement unit and the camera adjustment unit in such a way that the lower limit of the continuous display speed may become a video rate for recording images on the image recording unit.
  • the specimen can be observed using two or more observation methods capable of observing specimens in different optical states using the above microscope
  • the microscope observation system comprises two or more adjustment parts in total which are controlled by the light-amount adjustment unit and by the camera adjustment unit respectively. Furthermore, priority of adjusting the adjustment parts according to the observation method is set in the microscope observation system and the microscope observation system further comprises an observation method switching unit ( 81 , 92 , 93 and 95 ) for switching between the observation methods.
  • control unit can also control the continuous display speed by the observation method switching unit.
  • control unit can also measure the signal noise level of the photo-electrically converted image signal, sets the reference value of such a signal noise level as to endure the observation of an observation image deteriorated by the signal noise, determines whether the measured noise level exceeds the reference value and control the continuous display speed on the basis of the determination result.
  • the control unit stops controlling the continuous display speed.
  • the control unit when a transmitted illumination optical system is selected as an optical system state in the microscope, the control unit also stops controlling the continuous display speed.
  • control unit when the type of the observation method is fluorescence observation or dark field observation, the control unit also can control the continuous display speed.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises an adjustment input unit ( 47 ) capable of inputting information about the adjustment of the adjustment parts controlled by the light-amount adjustment unit or the camera adjustment unit, in which the control unit can control the continuous display speed as to adjustment parts other than the adjustment parts adjusted by the adjustment input unit.
  • the control unit can accumulate n pieces of frame image data displayed n (n: arbitrary integer) frames prior to the target image data continuously displayed on the display unit, display the accumulated image data as the current display image and simultaneously control the continuous display speed.
  • the control unit when the observation position shifting unit is operating or when the observation state detection unit determines that the unit is moving, the control unit can also temporarily change the adjustment priority among the adjustment parts.
  • the control unit when the shortest display interval time is not reached by controlling the continuous display speed by the light-amount adjustment unit or the camera adjustment unit, the control unit can also restrict the shifting speed of the observation position shifting unit.
  • control unit can also maintain an image displayed on the display unit in a certain size.
  • control unit when, among all of the adjustment parts, adjustment parts in which the amount of light or an images discontinuously changes is adjusted, the control unit can apply an adjustment complementary process for continuing to display the image immediately prior to the adjustment until the adjustment is completed.
  • the microscope observation system further comprises a storage unit ( 45 ) for storing the image immediately prior to the adjustment, and the control unit can stop continuous display on the display unit, control the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes, display the image data stored in the storage unit on the display unit until the control of the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes is completed and re-start the continuous display after the control of the adjustment parts in which the amount of light discontinuously changes is completed.
  • control unit when the specimen is being moved by the observation position moving unit, the control unit can also apply the prescribed adjustment complementary process.
  • the control unit can temporarily correct at the adjustment parts where the amount of light continuously changes, apply the adjustment complementary process for maintaining the brightness of a display image constant and control the continuous display speed when the movement of the specimen stops.
  • an optimum observation image can be displayed according to the purpose of observation by controlling with giving priority to the control order of exposure adjustment parts for each observation method. Therefore, a microscope observation system having good operability and visibility can be provided.
  • a microscope observation system having better operability can be provided.
  • a wide variety of specimens can be observed, which leads to the throughput improvement to the research result of an observer accordingly.
  • the entire system (a microscope and an observation device) can be optimally controlled with giving priority to an observation image inputted to a camera.
  • the microscope observation system of the present invention can throw away the observation concept in which an eyepiece lens is used.
  • the microscope observation system of the present invention can draw the performance of a camera and a microscope at its maximum according to the observation usage of an observer.

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